Blue Demons Basketball Club are considering legal action in the European courts against the IBA in an effort to put pressure on the association to regularise their player movement deadlines. Demons, who face league leaders Notre Dame in the cup quarter-final in a week's time, are seeking to sign a former English international as a `Bosman' player to bolster their emerging young squad which completes in the regional leagues.
The IBA, however, have informed the Cork club that the deadline for signing such a player has already passed. But Demons are insisting that the association's stance on the issue is descriminatory against European players seeking a move to another club because the IBA has a subsequent deadline of February 28th, 1998, for the movement of category 2 foreign players from outside the EU.
Demons say they have been informed by the European Union that the IBA rules are in contravention of EU law, but the association has nonetheless rejected the club's appeal.
The IBA's chief executive, Scott McCarthy, though, understands Blue Demons' position, but under the current rules of the association, he has no room for manoeuvre on the issue. "Yes, I see their point completely and in all honesty, it is quite possible that our rules are in contravention of European law, but the other FIBA nations in Europe are in the same position," he said. "The truth is that all the European associations are still coming to terms with the wide-ranging implications of the Bosman ruling and it takes cases like this to point out anomalies in the rules as they exist," he added. "But we cannot change in midseason. The best we can do on this is promise to review the rule on player movement and seriously consider realigning the Bosman and foreign player deadlines in the close season next summer," he concluded. The IBA make the point that the rules as they exist on the subject are there to add stability to the season so that clubs who reach a cup final or face a big endof-season league game don't stock up on `Bosman' players in advance of such an occasion. The extended February deadline for the movement of foreign players from outside Europe is there to safeguard against players receiving injuries and there have been several such cases earlier this season.
Other clubs are already expressing interest in what is perceived as a test case for the association, as it could seriously affect the rule book in the long-term. However, in the short-term, it looks as though Demons will have to seek an injunction against their cup tie going ahead if they are to advance their cause. Meanwhile, Notre Dame are in action tonight in a league match at the National Arena in Tallaght, where they face St Vincent's in a Dublin derby game that marks the halfway point of the season for both clubs.
Notre Dame, unbeaten in league and cup, will be strongly favoured to extend their winning league streak to nine in a row as St Vincent's have major injury difficulties. Along with the doubtful Mark Keenan and Stephen McGuirk, who have been struggling for full fitness all season, the Glasnevin side have lost their highly influential Irish-American, Dave Conlon, with torn ankle ligaments that will keep him out for about a month. Star of the Sea, already the only real opposition to the league leaders, will also be favoured to win against struggling Tralee in Belfast on Sunday, although it should be remembered that the Kerry side, league champions in 1996, were the only team to beat last year's title winners, Neptune.
Neptune's extraordinary poor form this season of seven defeats in a row will be sternly examined by a resurgent Killester in Cork tomorrow night. The Dublin team have won their last three league games in a row. Elsewhere in the super league, Killarney will be without the injured Brian Clarke for their home game against Marian, while Ballina are likely to still be without Joe McLean for their meeting with third placed Dungannon.
The big game in the women's super league is the meeting of the two teams in joint second place, Tolka Rovers and Naomh Mhuire, at Griffith Avenue tomorrow. The unbeaten leaders, Wildcats, have a rest weekend after their record-breaking 146point tally against Castleisland.
